A lone figure stood suspended above the vast sea of clouds, watching them roll and unfurl below. The boundless earth stretched out beneath him, and he remained silent.
He wore armor of blue gold, his beard reaching down to his chest. His build was imposing, his features aged — this was none other than the Southern Wasteland Immortal.
"Medicine Emperor pays his respects to Lord Southern Wasteland Envoy!" A figure materialized before him — the Supreme Grand Elder of the Yao Family, the Eighth Transformation Gu Immortal, Yao Huang.
The Southern Wasteland Immortal turned sideways, a half-smile playing on his lips: "We are both Eighth Transformations. Just call me fellow immortal; there's no need for such formality."
Yao Huang bowed respectfully: "In terms of cultivation, Lord Southern Wasteland surpasses me many times over. In terms of seniority, I am your great-great-great-grandson many times removed. How could I be so discourteous?"
The Southern Wasteland Immortal nodded and sighed: "You're a good one. It's a pity that our Golden Bloodline grows ever more withered. Across the entire Northern Plains, beyond the Eternal Heaven, there is only one Eighth Transformation Gu Immortal who belongs to our Golden Family!"
Though Crown Prince Feng Xian was also a member of the Gong Family, in the Southern Wasteland Immortal's eyes, without the bloodline, he was still an outsider.
"In my generation, there were four Eighth Transformations in the Golden Family. Among them was one known as the Tiger God, who possessed world-shaking divine might — the most promising seed of our time, expected to break through to the Ninth Transformation. Sadly, he was lost within the Black Heaven. Time truly flies; the Golden Bloodline grows weaker with each generation."
Deep disappointment flickered through the Southern Wasteland Immortal's eyes.
Yao Huang had nothing to say.
Such words criticizing the entire Golden Bloodline — Yao Huang himself lacked the standing for that. Only the Southern Wasteland Immortal had the right to pass such judgment.
In truth, the Southern Wasteland Immortal's words were factual.
Yao Huang couldn't refute them.
It was indeed so. The Golden Families of the Northern Plains were gradually decaying, their talent dwindling, while rogue cultivators and new stars of the Demonic Path emerged one after another — Hundred-Legged Heavenly Lord, Chu Du, Liu Guanyi, and others.
"However, Ancestor Ju Yang foresaw this situation long ago." The Southern Wasteland Immortal suddenly shifted his tone, delivering words that shocked Yao Huang.
"Oh? Ancestor Ju Yang rose to prominence in the Middle Ancient Era — could he truly have predicted the state of things today?"
"The Ancestor cultivated the Fortune Path, but his attainment in the Wisdom Path was by no means weak. Moreover, so-called 'fortune' is essentially about variables. As the founder of the Fortune Path, he naturally grasped the fundamental principles governing all change in the world. After establishing the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building, he once declared that this building would inevitably fall — and when it collapsed, it would mark the beginning of a great era, the signal of heaven and earth transformation." The Southern Wasteland Immortal continued.
Yao Huang was utterly stunned: "Is that so?"
What was a great era?
An era capable of producing Immortal Venerables and Demonic Venerables — that was universally recognized as a great era.
The Southern Wasteland Immortal let out a long sigh: "Ancestor Ju Yang worked painstakingly, arranging all manner of means, all to secretly benefit his descendants and preserve their strength. So that his future grandchildren could ride the winds and face the waves in this great era, becoming those who shaped the tides. At the very least, they would protect themselves and preserve the seeds of the bloodline."
Yao Huang hesitated: "Even if our Golden Bloodline is in decline, surely we can at least maintain ourselves? The Northern Plains is still under our control. Even if we falter, there is still the Eternal Heaven."
The Southern Wasteland Immortal shook his head: "No matter how strong the Eternal Heaven is, it was merely formed from the Ancestor's Immortal Orifice. But the Heavenly Court has had three Immortal Venerables leave behind their Immortal Orifices over the years, and every generation of Heavenly Court members has donated their own private cave heavens. How can the Eternal Heaven's foundation possibly compare to the Heavenly Court's? Take this time, for example — the Central Continent took the initiative to attack, dispatching three Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals and three Immortal Gu Houses in a single stroke. Does our Golden Bloodline possess such strength?"
Yao Huang gasped: "What? The Central Continent is attacking?!"
But the Southern Wasteland Immortal offered no further explanation, simply saying: "Stay close to me."
Before the words had even finished, he shot skyward.
Yao Huang hurried to follow close behind.
The two immortals pierced through the Heavenly Might barrier and entered the Black Heaven.
Under the Southern Wasteland Immortal's lead, Yao Huang flew toward the southeast.
After flying for some time, Yao Huang's heart began to tremble: "The Black Heaven is fraught with danger. Though I've often ventured here in search of Eighth Transformation immortal materials, I've never experienced such smooth sailing — not a single obstacle along the way. Could it be that the Southern Wasteland Lord possesses a route map of the Black Heaven?"
But in truth, route maps were useless in the Nine Heavens of antiquity.
The clouds in the Nine Heavens were in constant flux. Fixed locations existed, but they were exceedingly rare.
The Central Continent expedition had been considered remarkably successful, yet they had still encountered troubles like swarms of Qi-Barrier Flying Pigs and Foul Venom Snake packs. The Southern Wasteland Immortal and Yao Huang, on the other hand, traveled without disaster or pain, serene and safe, as if strolling through their own backyard garden.
"Good. Right here." The Southern Wasteland Immortal came to a stop.
Yao Huang also slowed down, flying up to his side and halting.
He felt puzzled — the surroundings were empty and bare, without even a wisp of wind. Why would the Southern Wasteland Immortal specifically stop here?
The next moment, the Southern Wasteland Immortal answered with action.
Blinding golden light erupted from his entire body, like fragments of the sun, forcing Yao Huang to shut his eyes.
Yao Huang's heart lurched.
In the dark depths of the Black Heaven, such a display of intense light was an open invitation for attacks from savage beasts.
But after remaining on high alert for some time, no beast packs appeared.
"Is this even still the Black Heaven?" Yao Huang wondered.
Moments later, the Southern Wasteland Immortal's immortal killer move was finally fully activated. A dark gold palace materialized from the void, revealing its magnificent and towering structure.
Yao Huang had never imagined that an Immortal Gu House could be hidden here.
He quickly identified the palace's origin and exclaimed with overwhelming agitation: "Isn't this the Fortune-Suppressing Heavenly Palace?"
The Calamity Fortune Altar, the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building, and the Fortune-Suppressing Heavenly Palace — these were the three Immortal Gu Houses that Immortal Venerable Ju Yang had possessed during his lifetime.
The Eighty-Eight True Yang Building had been placed by Ancestor Ju Yang within the King's Court Blessed Land, the Calamity Fortune Altar was left in the Eternal Heaven, and this Fortune-Suppressing Heavenly Palace — Ancestor Ju Yang had placed it within the Black Heaven, concealed from sight for countless years!
"Ancestor Ju Yang must have placed the Fortune-Suppressing Heavenly Palace here for a profound reason. But what exactly was his purpose?"
As Yao Huang pondered, the Southern Wasteland Immortal glanced back at him and said: "Follow me."